Beneath the Wraps

       Twice a year the presidency of either Elder’s Quorum or Relief Society (at least in our ward) are asked to pick out three talks from the latest general conference that will most benefit the members.   I’ve been in the presidency for six and a half years under three different presidents and have always picked Tracy Browning (well, since she's been in) as one of the talks I would like to see taught in Relief Society. Since she was ordained to the primary in April 2022, Sister Browning’s talk has made the list . . . except for this last Conference. I was the only one who had picked it. And yet I had several opportunities to slide it in.   Each time thinking, “ This is a great talk but maybe one that won’t resonate with the sisters; another talk may provide them with what they need.”       We went to Kevin’s ward on Sunday February 23. I think the chapel and Relief Society Rooms squished together were the same size of our entire build...

           I recently learned that Brigham Young had told Ephraim Hanks to shave his face.   I have probably heard the story ( here ) several times but did not resonate like it does at present.   “Wear a mask”. How hard is that?   Few people enjoy being told what to do.   We all have our free agency.   Not everybody will wear a mask – or if they do, they will wear pretend masks or fail to cover both mouth and nose. https://www.amazon.com/Mustache-Handmade- Washable-Copyright-Protected/dp/B08DK461YP          Ephraim Hanks had free agency.   He didn’t have to shave.   He chose to obey the council.   It’s not that he needed to prove anything to others or even God.   He had to prove to himself that he was willing to obey.   This act played a huge role with his ability to lead others.            This article reinforces that wearing a mask is showing Christ...

When the “Come Follow Me” program was introduced at the same time as two hour meetings, we were told to use the third hour to study at home.   We were also told that we wanted to develop the habit for one day when we were unable to attend church meetings for whatever reason.   None of us had predicted this soon however. We had cancelled our last RS activity due to the weather and decided to cancel our upcoming as well.   We had made the decision before the church announced NO MORE MEETINGS until further notice ( here ). Only seminary will be held unless the schools shut.   But as of now only seminary is the only meeting that will be held at the ward house.   No others.   Not even sacrament meeting.   Why do people panic instead of remaining calm?   Why do so many always expect the worse.   Instead of viewing the police car at the high school as “Oh, good.   They are keeping my child safe” a parent may panic and demand, “What...

Yesterday I was watching a movie on Hallmark.    The movie title is one I have seen before – but with a different description.    I enjoyed the 2019 version of “Christmas Town” starring Candace Cameron Bure ( here ).              The movie starts out with the focus on a man and his little girl.    He is struggling with some health issues.    The tree has been put up and decorated and he somehow loses his balance causing the angel to fall and breaks off a wing.    He promises that he will send it off to have it fixed.    If he had just used a form of Elmer’s or Gorilla glue, we might not have the story that takes place roughly twenty years later. Lauren has recently accepted a teaching position in Springfield, Mass. and is anxious to leave behind her life in Boston. We learn that she has a boyfriend and a promised relationship, but her wants and his wants are not the same.   ...

(Pineapple Members, 2016)             Some people are blessed with learning from others' examples.   Unfortunately it seems there are more who just don't get it and have to figure out things for themselves.   Still there are some who go through trials and still appear to be clueless.   Allow me to share an example.             When I was a youth, I remember seeing ads in the classified section inviting youth to earn money picking pineapples in Hawaii.   The ad itself was marketed in such a clever way that youth believed not only would they be earning money, but would have an opportunity to tour Hawaii as well.   I remember a bunch of Patrick's friends decided to fill out applications and asked him to join them as well.   My brother, Patrick, has always been logical and decided he would wait a year.   If things worked out among his friends, surely they'd want to return. ...

        A garden, by definition, is either a cultivated plot of ground or a gathering place such as a park which is generally adorned with plants and trees.   I guess I have never considered the definition until quite recently.   We had our Stake Conference this weekend, and one of the speakers mentioned two specific gardens found in the scriptures and discussed the symbolic differences between them.           The Garden of Eden, as mentioned in Geneses,          is outlined as a paradise.   We see paintings of fruit and vegetation, peace and waterfalls, a beautiful place where everything is tranquil.   I guess it represents a kind of perfection.           The Garden of Gethsemane, as portrayed by each of the gospels, does not have the same appeal.   Paintings often depict a drab setting wi...

            I think my favorite talk for this past conference was this one given by Elder Ronald A. Rasband.     He talked about a subject that I have touched on my blog before.   I was reminded of a post I created just over a year and a half ago.   I had briefly discussed Wendy Ulrich's book "Habits of Happiness".   The particular subject was "Don't try to get   Help from your Problems" - in other words, ask God to help you make your weaknesses become strengths - rely upon Him as the path you thought you may have chosen isn't necessarily the right one for you.                 It is interesting that so many of us can listen to or read the same exact talk and walk away from it with a different interpretation than another might - just as with the parables the Savior would deliver to those who would listen and those who...

         One of the gifts that I opened on Christmas was the Chicken Soup for the Soul "Positive Thinking"   stories full of reminders not to give up and to do whatever it takes.         As I read I think of examples from my own life:         Karyn was agoraphobic.  Her son had gone to a mission in Brazil and had developed feelings for a certain young lady.  After he had gone back to visit, he announced that he and this girl would be getting married and living in Brazil for a while.  Knowing that he needed some support from the family, he wanted his parents there, of course. Karyn and her husband had enough money for only one plane ticket. And because of her fears of dealing with crowds, it was decided that her husband would go.         His job seemed to complicate the situation as far as the date was concerned.  It...

         I don’t know if I had met Kelly prior to the being called to serve on the activities committee.  The first activity I remember being involved with was a “food storage/budgeting made-fun activity” Kelly played Betty Barker and I became the emcee who drew the names of contestants and invited them to “come on down”.          Even then she was struggling with the Church and her family life – desiring to connect the two but feeling torn with her beliefs.  Her husband showed no sign of ever wanting to be involved with the Church or even anybody who belonged to it.  Perhaps Kelly wasn’t even active when they met but gradually came around with a desire for having God and direction in her life – perhaps not necessarily the “Mormon Church”          That was five years ago.  And she continues to battle with herself and her maintaini...